Thank you SO much for the ARC of The Thrashers.

This title was absolutely a step away from what I normally read. While I enjoy YA and have read many titles in YA contemporary, I have grown to avoid high school settings and high school aged kids in a contemporary setting without fantasy, now I usually read fantasy YA books set in other worlds. I am absolutely glad that I ended up deciding to break my rule about high school books and read this one. I have been so deep into fantasy or just rom com that I was not sure what to expect. The book absolutely sucks you in with the mystery and the drama, that does not feel childish in any way.

The book felt at first almost predictable but the paranormal aspects and the characters still kept me engaged. There were certainly points that kept me on the edge of my seat and not where I thought it was headed. Then it felt like it wrapped up nicely… and FINALLY you get to the very very end. Just a fragment and my mind said hold up a second! This is not a book to skip out on and just enjoy the ride all the way through! I truly felt Thrashed after the end of this book. It is going to live rent free in my mind for a while now.

I really enjoyed this dark thriller as I retired from teaching and now can read about things I'm glad never happened to my students! This novel involves a group of tight-knit students called The Thrashers who do everything together--often dangerous stunts--and will never "out" the others. But when young woman--Emily--dies of an apparent suicide in the bathtub, things get dicey and protagonist, Jodi decides to investigate. But we all know how cliques guard their own and some secrets are better left undiscovered!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Wow! This book had me captivated right away. I could NOT put it down. It was the perfect combination of social drama mixed with suspense and mystery, with a touch of spooky. I loved everything about it.

The way I could NOT put this book down!!! And then I woke up to flashing lights outside my window the day after I finished it, and I was genuinely scared (it was just lightning). Like I am a grown adult and this book had me quaking in my boots.

You know how Colleen Hoover broke out of her mold with Verity and it ended up being like her best book... I think this might be Julie Soto's Verity. I have read ALL of her work, even the fanfiction. Julie Soto is an "auto-buy" for me (I'm not salty I was declined the ARC of Rose in Chains, okay maybe I'm a little salty). I am notorious for not reading a synopsis. If I know and love the author, I will read the book. That is how I ended up reading this book. One chapter in and I was like "is this YA?" and halfway through, "is this a paranormal thriller?"... It was so different from what I'm used to reading by Julie(but Julian did have a little bit of a Draco vibe).

I do have tiny complaints but they are minor spoilers, so beware before revealing. Also note that I read an ARC, so this may be changed by the time the book is published. [I was a little disappointed in how info-dumpy the ending was. It felt rushed and/or shortened. Everyone just confessing all of their sins to Jodi? It didn't feel realistic. (hide spoiler)] But that epilogue though!!! I'm going to be thinking about that twist for the rest of my life!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I unintentionally read this book in one sitting. I just couldn't bring myself to put it down. I will say that it took me a minute to get into it, but once I did...hours went by without me noticing.

This hit the same teen thriller notes as Pretty Little Liars (Season 1). Emotionally, this really hit home with Jodi's feelings of insecurity within her friend group. The relationships between all the characters were so well written. This book could've been twice as long and I would've gladly kept reading.

Julie Soto was already an auto-buy author for me, but I'll definitely be recommending The Thrashers to everyone. Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I have been wanting to read this since it was announced .
When I saw I could read the arc on Netgalley. I did not hesitate.
I don't usually read thrillers that often but I had to read it since I loved everything Julie Sotos has written.
Book review:
This book had my emotions on what felt like roller coaster at times. I swear this friend group just could not catch a break.
It's such an easy read. Which I can attest to since I binged it in one day. It's about five friends dealing with the aftermath of a classmate "Emily Mills" tragic suicide. I liked the group dynamic and how it showed them in highschool dealing with issues and insecurities. You can just tell everyone has a secret throughout the book but I still wanted to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. The epilogue was a little evil for me cause what do you mean I need more details! You can't just leave me at that. If you are thinking about reading this do it you will not regret it.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins press/Wednesday books for allowing me to read this digital arc and review it.

Julie Soto’s The Thrashers is a gripping YA thriller that plunges readers into the dark, high-stakes world of New Helvetia High’s elite friend group. With a sharp, suspenseful plot and morally complex characters, this novel will keep you hooked from the very first page.

Soto masterfully builds tension, layering eerie messages and chilling events that suggest Emily’s presence still lingers. The novel’s pacing is relentless, making it impossible to put down.

With its intense atmosphere, shocking reveals, and high emotional stakes, The Thrashers is a standout YA thriller. It’s the kind of book that lingers long after the final page, leaving readers questioning just how far they’d go to protect the truth—or themselves.

I’m admittedly not the target demographic for this book but I like Julie Soto’s work and dabble in YA fantasy so I wanted to give The Thrashers a try.

The premise felt somewhat like Pretty Little Liars meets Gossip Girl, where a close group of friends are mysteriously haunted following the suicide of a wannabe groupie. Honestly, each one of them was more insufferable than the last and they came off one-dimensional and caricatures of what adults think teenagers are like. I could vaguely relate to the feeling of wanting to fit in but not to the extent of desperation shown by Jodi, the main character, or Emily, the dead girl catalyst.

Despite being a mystery/thriller, there weren’t any satisfying plot twists and the ending left more questions than answers. I sincerely hope the epilogue isn’t intended as an opening to a potential sequel.

This dark academia thriller is a slow burn with jump-scare moments that left me with more questions than answers. Once the paranormal elements came into play, I was hooked and at the edge of my seat. Soto manages to create 6 unique characters and you’ll create a love-hate relationship with each of them. Who is the true villain, and who is the victim? I constantly felt myself switching perspectives to determine the truth, but the epilogue is something I never could’ve prepared myself for and I can’t believe it was left on such a cliffhanger!

Although marketed towards the YA audience, older readers will thoroughly enjoy this book as well. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC.

This book blew me away. It was so compulsively-readable that I read this into the early hours of the morning. We follow Jodi who must navigate the aftermath of her classmate's death, and it seems like everyone thinks she and her high school clique "The Thrashers" are responsible for Emily's death. But strange things start to happen around Jodi and The Thrashers, making the reader question what's real. It very quickly felt like a mix of Pretty Little Liars and Thirteen Reasons Why—in all the best ways!

We also get snippets from Emily's journal, which provides some possible insight into her thoughts and motivations as the story unravels.

My heart broke for Jodi and all the trauma she endured throughout the story. Julie Soto does an excellent job at crafting very flawed characters that evoke strong emotions. And as the story unfolds and the characters develop, each of these characters took me on an emotional rollercoaster.

I would love to get more in this world from Julie Soto! Overall, a fantastic, thrilling read.

Please check content warnings as this story deals with a LOT of heavy and triggering topics.

The Pretty Little Liars and 13 Reasons Why mashup I didn’t know I needed. Seeing Julie Soto dabble in a YA thriller had me intrigued after reading her previous work, and she proved herself as one of the most versatile authors with this one. AND THAT ENDING? It has me wanting more, but also content to leave things a bit….unsettled.

This book is addictive. It was so hard to put down. And even when I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it. I was worried it would have too strong of Pretty Little Liars vibes and they’re there if you look for them but this book had a different feel. The story and characters are so captivating and you never really know what to believe without feeling like the author is intentionally dragging out the story or keeping you in the dark. I felt so deeply for some of these characters. Fantastic storytelling. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

OKAY JULIE I SEE YOU!!

I’ll be honest I was hesitant… my thoughts were “I love Julie’s romance books and her ff but how will I like her YA thriller?”

Well y’all I really REALLY liked this one!

Here is what you need to know:
Jodi Dillon is a “thrasher” and she has been best friends with Zack Thrasher since 2nd grade. As Zack has added more friends to their friend group Jodi has gotten more friends but… is that because of her or Zack? 👀

And then… a classmate dies and everyone is looking at “the thrashers” as the reason she is dead. As the investigation ensues and secrets are uncovered what will happen to the thrashers? And it seems as there is more than meets the eye. 👀

I am so grateful to have received an Advanced Reader Copy of the ebook from St. Martins/Wednesday books and NetGalley.

Book review: (keeping it spoiler free)
I was hooked and didn’t want to put it down. It had all the things I love about a thriller. I couldn’t predict it all, but had some guesses that panned out. I hadn’t read a YA thriller in a minute and now I feel like I need more thrillers in my life. Very excited to see what Julie does next!
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Content warnings: talk of suicide, death of a parent (off page), drugs, alcohol, talk of sex, abuse.

This book is perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus and The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. Seniors at New Helvetia high school in the Sacramento area are plagued by the apparent suicide of their friend, Emily Mills. They feel haunted by what they are sure is Emily’s ghost, while also dealing with their own demons. This book has a great plot and excellent character development, with elements of high school bullying that really ring true and accurate.

One thing that really stood out to me was that although I could tell all of the characters had secrets, and therefore I did not trust them, I was still rooting for them. The characters were so dynamic and came to life for me, which I thought was incredibly well done.

There is mention of alcoholism and associated violence. I received this ARC from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley.

Julie Soto has this incredible talent to immediately hook me into a story and make me care deeply about what happens to everybody in it. I was unable to put this one down.

Read if you’re looking for…
📓 high school cliques and drama
📓 thriller and mystery
📓 something a bit eerie
📓 journal entries

A high school student dies. Are The Thrashers to blame?

This one kept me on my toes. I thought the audiobook was well done! I enjoyed that there were 2 narrators - one for Jodi, our main character, and one for Emily via her journal entries.

Content warnings include suicide, bullying, alcoholism, violence, and other normal thriller/mystery warnings.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Wednesday Books for my ALC and eARC!

Where do I even begin with this book?! I knew I would love it, but DAMN! Julie kept me hooked with each new chapter and I had no idea how it was going to end. I was guessing and theorizing the entire time but never once came close to what actually happened.

We follow a group of friends, The Thrashers, during their senior year after a girl, Emily, who was desperate to join their group, kills herself on prom night. During the police investigation, Emily’s diary is discovered to have evidence of mistreatment by members of the Thrashers. The friends are adamant that they are innocent, but how can they be sure when they each have secrets of their own?

You will spend this book desperately wanting more and Julie will come out of left field with some new crazy thing happening to the Thrashers. You’re constantly on your toes, thrown into new life or death situations, and wondering when you’ll learn a new secret. I could read this same story from each POV so that I can pick apart their decisions and know every single detail of the story.

Julie shared at Romance-Con at the Toledo Library last year that this was the story she’s been dying to share, and it shows. The storytelling was so compelling and interesting that I could not put it down. I mean, I feel that way about most of her writing, but this one was particularly exceptional! I can’t wait to devour more of her stories in the future.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Julie for trusting me to review this eARC! I’m ready and waiting for the next!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)

The Thrashers is eerie, gripping, and beautifully written—Julie Soto’s storytelling completely immerses you from page one. The atmosphere is thick with tension and mystery, pulling you deeper into a world that’s as haunting as it is compelling.

Soto crafts a narrative that feels cinematic, with vivid descriptions, layered characters, and a slow-building sense of unease that keeps you on edge. There’s an emotional undercurrent that runs through the story, but it never overwhelms the suspenseful and slightly gothic tone that makes this book stand out.

It’s the kind of read that lingers with you long after the final page. Highly recommend to anyone who loves atmospheric fiction with a dark, introspective edge.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Fans of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder will love Julie Soto’s latest book The Thrashers. Five high schoolers unknowingly bully a classmate into suicide or did they know? This story delves into what it means to be a part of the “in” crowd, the sacrifices you have to make and who you have to become. This is not at all what I was expecting having read and loved Julie Soto’s previous works. While I liked it I didn’t love it as much as her others. The ending was left a bit undone (not sure if there will be a sequel?) as in it didn’t feel complete. Overall an interesting look at the secret lives of high schoolers but not my favorite from Soto.

Was so lucky to get this advanced copy of Julie Soto’s new book! This book was a perfect high school drama/ thriller/ with a bit of paranormal mystery thrown in. The Thrashers are the popular kids in high school and a group everyone wants to be apart of. When a teenage girl Emily commits suicide the school starts talking about how she has been thrashed from the group. These friends then start to navigate a school and police who think she bullied her into her early death. I really enjoyed reading this book and was shocked with several twists and turns that it went on as the book progresses… to say nothing of the epilogue at the end.